Going Merry's Persistence

Since Yin Yang Release can touch Going Merry's body, can it be used to save her?!

Now, all hope of saving Going Merry rests on him alone. No matter what, he has to try.

Glancing at the little guy in his arms, Xi Yan tried his best to remain calm.

Whether Going Merry can survive or not depends entirely on him.

"So, you really have a way?!"

"I can't guarantee it will work, but we have to try," Xi Yan said, taking a deep breath. "At least there will be no regrets."

"Then go ahead and do it," Luffy said.

Although he didn't know what Xi Yan was going to do, he chose to believe him.

"Do you need our help?" Sanji asked.

"I also have some experience in shipbuilding," Franky added. "If you need anything, you can tell me."

"You can't help me with the method I'm going to use," Xi Yan shook his head.

"He's probably planning to use a method unique to ninjas," Kokoro said.

Everyone paused at her words, then nodded helplessly.

If it was a ninja's technique, they really couldn't help at all.

"Going Merry, stop the ship," Xi Yan said, looking at Going Merry.

The first thing he needed to do was to find a way to disconnect Going Merry from the ship, so that the ship's condition wouldn't affect Going Merry herself.

However, if Going Merry continued to maintain the ship's condition, Xi Yan wouldn't be able to act directly.

"No."

"No?"

"I won't stop the ship until I've sent you all ashore," Going Merry said.

As she spoke, more cracks appeared on her body, but the little guy didn't seem to care at all.

"Going Merry!!"

Usopp looked at Going Merry with heartache, wishing he could bear the pain in her place.

Perhaps sensing Usopp's strong emotions, Going Merry smiled and continued, "I'm currently relying solely on sheer willpower to keep the Going Merry operational. Once I withdraw my power, the ship will break."

"At that time, even if I wanted to do anything, I wouldn't be able to, so... I disagree with you."

As the ship's spirit, Going Merry was well aware of her own condition and the extent of the ship's damage.

If she were to follow Xi Yan's advice and withdraw her power, the ship's keel would immediately break, and the Going Merry would no longer be able to sail. Her life would also come to an end.

But this was not what Going Merry wanted. How could she be willing to die at sea without sending everyone back?

"But if you continue, you'll die."

"It's okay, I'm not afraid."

A warm smile spread across Going Merry's face. She looked at her nakama and said, "Isn't the meaning of my existence to send everyone to a safe destination?"

"Going Merry!!"

"Xi Yan, do what you need to do," Zoro said calmly, looking at Xi Yan. "The longer we delay, the worse it will be."

"Using force might injure her."

"That's better than letting Going Merry die!"

Xi Yan hesitated. The logic was sound, but if Going Merry didn't cooperate later, how could he save her?

Just then, Franky noticed something in the distance and exclaimed in surprise, "I see a ship!"

"A ship?!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. If they could get a ship, would Going Merry have to endure the pain to maintain the Going Merry?

"Clang!"

Zoro drew his sword and said, "Prepare to seize the ship."

Although it might be unfair to those people, they couldn't afford to worry about it now. They could compensate them later. The priority was to save their nakama.

"Wait!" Usopp said, looking into the distance with his special glasses. "Those people seem to be... it's Uncle Iceberg and them!"

"Idiot Iceberg?" Franky's eyes lit up. "Then we don't need to seize it."

"Then we..."

Before Usopp could finish, he heard some unpleasant sounds, like... the mournful cry of wood!

This sudden change made Usopp's face fall.

He immediately looked at the hull and found that cracks had already begun to appear below the railing!

"Oh no, Going Merry..."

"Someone's here to pick me up? That's great..." Going Merry said weakly. "Then I can also..."

As he spoke, more and more cracks appeared on the Going Merry, making it look increasingly fragile.

Without the Ship Spirit to sustain it, the Going Merry began to break apart, as if it would completely collapse at any moment!

"Splash~"

Suddenly, the seawater churned and gently enveloped the area below the Going Merry, acting like a protective layer.

This change halted the Going Merry's gradual deterioration.

"Phew... it won't break for now," Xi Yan let out a long sigh.

With seawater surrounding it, even if the keel broke, the ship wouldn't shatter, it just wouldn't be able to move anymore.

Seeing that the Going Merry's condition was no longer worsening, the others breathed a sigh of relief.

"You scared me... I thought the Going Merry was going to..."

Chopper bit his hand, looking at the Going Merry, trying hard not to cry.

"You guys go to that ship first," Xi Yan said.

"How do we get there?" Sanji asked helplessly. "We had a lifeboat, but it's gone now because of what happened earlier."

They couldn't possibly swim over, and everyone's stamina was low.

"Swim over!" Zoro declared.

"Swim over?"

Chopper blinked. He glanced at the sea, thought carefully... For the Going Merry, he'd do it!!

"You idiot, of course, I'll take you," Zoro grabbed Chopper, who was about to jump into the sea.

Did this kid really plan to swim over himself?

"I'll take you there."

As Xi Yan finished speaking, a Water Dragon appeared on the sea's surface, silently floating around the Going Merry.

"Hey, we don't have your ability to walk on water," Franky said.

"Stop wasting time and hurry up!" Sanji kicked Franky, sending him directly onto the head of the Water Dragon.

"Plop~"

He fell directly into the surging water current, bobbing back and forth within the Water Dragon.

Franky: ???

It's not like I said I wouldn't go.

But seeing everyone else jump in without hesitation, even the ability users, Franky stopped complaining.

"Boom!!"

Soon, the giant Water Dragon carried everyone away from there, charging towards the massive ship where Iceberg was!

At this point, only Xi Yan and the Going Merry remained on the Golden Going Merry.

After gently placing the Going Merry on the ground, Xi Yan said, "Going Merry, do you trust me?"

"Mhm!"

Although she had only met Xi Yan for the first time, since he was also a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, he was her partner, and she was willing to trust him.

"Alright, what I'm about to do concerns your life," Xi Yan's expression grew serious. "Cooperate with me fully, don't resist, understand?"

"Okay, I understand."

Although she didn't know what Xi Yan was going to do... if she could really survive and continue adventuring with her partners, how could she refuse?

She... wanted to live too!

At this moment, Xi Yan felt the Going Merry's will to survive.

He took out a scroll from his ninja tool bag and placed it on the ground.

"Bang~"

A puff of white smoke appeared, and the small scroll immediately transformed into an extra-large scroll!

"What is this?" Going Merry asked curiously.

"This is a special scroll."

"What's it for?"

"In short... it can be used to save you," Xi Yan said.

Yin Yang Release, Sealing Technique, Summoning Technique...

Xi Yan planned to try them one by one until he found a way to save the Going Merry.

"Okay, I understand, I'll cooperate with you."